Whether or not Richard Sherman and Co. were able to translate Peyton Manning's hand signals in Super Bowl XLVIII, there was no question who the better team was that day. As Seattle handed Denver a 43-8 beatdown in front of a racuous MetLife Stadium crowd, many questions arose about rewriting history. From where the Seahawks defense ranked on the all-time list to ranking this game among the worst losses in Super Bowl history, many discussions were sparked amid a stunned crowd.
But the one that has persisted and will continue to reside is one that revolves around Manning and his legacy. Is Manning among the top five quarterbacks in NFL history, and if so, where?
Before delving into this conversation, let's first take a look at the type of year Manning had. In addition to setting multiple league records and winning Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year", Manning was also named the 2013-2014 MVP after receiving 49 of 50 first-place votes. Despite the humiliating loss — in which Manning threw for 280 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions — he can still safely say he had one of his most productive years.
Having said that, if Manning had been able to conquer the No. 1 defense and perform as well as he had all season long in ideal weather conditions, this discussion would have been over. Not in regards to who's the best of all time, but in solidifying Manning as a top five quarterback, maybe even the best. Now as the fans and media look back at Super Bowl XLVIII, they'll only ponder on what went wrong, and for good reason.
However, in regards to Manning's legacy and place among the elite quarterbacks, there was only one aspect that was tarnished. That is something that cannot be taught: clutch factor. This also happens to be an area that many consider to be the most vital when it comes to ranking the best of all-time.
In the biggest game of his career, Manning crumbled. Blame it on his offensive line, Demaryius Thomas' shoulder being separated or any number of other issues, but Manning simply did not perform.
For someone who has constantly been considered one of the best quarterbacks of all-time, this has only made the argument for Manning harder. Especially when he boasts a 1-2 Super Bowl record and an 11-12 overall playoff record following a game where is quarterback rating was 24.4, the second worst in Super Bowl history.
The bottom line is that greats like Joe Montana and Tom Brady have consistently rose to the occasion when it matters most. Montana is 4-0 in Super Bowls and Tom Brady is the only quarterback to start and win three Super Bowls before the age of 28. These are the players that Manning is going up against, and at the age of 37, there isn't much light at the end of the tunnel. Manning can't change his past and he'll have to go on with a mediocre postseason record at best.
It should also be noted that Manning's lone Super Bowl win against the Chicago Bears came against a backup quarterback in Rex Grossman that boasted one of the lower quarterback ratings (7.1) in Super Bowl history. Of course the Colts deserved to win the game, having one of the most versatile offenses in NFL history, but the quality of the opponent is certainly something to consider when it comes to comparing Manning with the rest.
However, Manning holds one thing that keeps him in this discussion: regular season stats. There are few that even come close to Manning's number in the regular season, and though it can be argued that postseason stats are more valuable, it is still an area that cannot be touched. For what it's worth, Manning is the best regular season quarterback of all-time.
When it's all said and done, there is a long list of great quarterbacks that will see-saw back and forth on the all-time greats list. Whether it's players like John Elway who boast a sub-500 2-3 Super Bowl record or Terry Bradshaw who has a perfect 4-0 record, there will always be a discussion over who belongs on that list.
For Manning, this is good news. Manning will eventually be inducted as a first ballot hall of famer, and it will be as a result of his endless list of accolades. Manning may not have a chance to be called the greatest quarterback of all-time, but at the same time, it will be hard to keep him out of the top five. He may not be clutch, but he deserves to be among the best.
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